Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation

Dr. Tyson-Lord Gray joins the podcast today for a riveting conversation about the intersections of animal rights, food justice, and the environmental movement. An attorney, professor, minister, and activist, Dr. Gray discusses how these social movements are often isolated from each other and how his varied roles in ministry, law, and academia help him see these connections more clearly. He explains why animal rights can sometimes be of low priority within marginalized communities, tells us how he is actively prompting conversations about animal rights through his work as a minister, and shares how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed his approach to activism. Dr. Gray also discusses his goals as a new board member at Mercy for Animals. Dr. Gray is a founding member and president of Green Community Vision Inc., a non-profit organization aimed at increasing environmental consciousness and environmental activism within minority communities. He is currently a Research Associate at The Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU Stern Business School with an interest in holding industries accountable to environmental regulations and preventing greenwashing via deceptive food labeling. Dr. Gray also serves as a minister in the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. and is a board member for Mercy for Animals and Green the Church. “We have to fight for the now. We have to fight for the alleviation of animal suffering now. We have to fight for more stringent standards as they pertain to environmental laws, regulations, and animal rights now with the end goal and the vision of something better in the future.” – Dr. Tyson-Lord Gray Interview Highlights: How Dr. Gray’s faith intersects with social justice, political activism, and environmental issues Our duties to animals, regardless of individual faith, and whether attitudes toward animal rights are shifting Dr. Gray’s work at Green the Church and why they are pursuing the mission to get churches involved in environmental justice, sustainability issues, and food justice within Black communities How he approaches working with people who are just beginning their shift toward plant-based living and why coming at veganism from a health perspective is often the first step Dr. Gray’s insight into how communities can broaden the Black Lives Matter movement to incorporate nutrition and spark conversations about animal rights The barriers faced by Black vegans in trying to follow a plant-based lifestyle Advice on dealing with the complicated emotions that arise when animal rights and environmental issues don’t resonate with someone you love or admire Connect with Dr. Tyson-Lord Gray: Tyson-Lord Gray’s Website Mercy for Animals Hope Gala Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We’re excited to switch things up this week to bring you a discussion of vegan representation in the arts and an unforgettable performance! John Yunker and Midge Raymond, co-founders of vegan publishing house Ashland Creek Press, join Mariann and Jasmin to perform the radio play Veganish: A John Yunker Play. There, we meet Jessica as she comes across her vegan idol and grapples with the reality that he may not be the dedicated vegan he claims. John also does a reading from his book (one of our favorites), The Tourist Trail, and John and Midge stay on to discuss vegan literature, how they are redefining environmental writing, and how the genre has changed over the last ten years. Midge Raymond has more than twenty years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing. In addition to being a published fiction writer and journalist, she has worked as an editor and copywriter with several major publishing houses, including Penguin and St. Martin’s. Midge has written two books for writers, Everyday Writing and Everyday Book Marketing, and is also the author of the novel My Last Continent and the award-winning short story collection, Forgetting English. John Yunker is the author of the full-length plays Sanctuary, Paleo, Species of Least Concern, and Meat the Parents, which was a finalist in the 2014 Centre Stage New Play Festival. His novel, The Tourist Trail, began as a short story by the same name and won the Phoebe Journal 2010 Fiction Prize. Where Oceans Hide Their Dead, the sequel to The Tourist Trail, was published in February 2019. “You can never have too many books about animals and the environment out there, especially fiction and texts that make the connection between what we eat and how we live in the world. We think that’s especially important.” – Midge Raymond “Just like food feeds your body,  literature feeds your soul.” – John Yunker Interview Highlights: What is vegan literature? Why it’s just as important to feed the soul nutritious food as the body How Midge writes about food in her fiction in ways that remain true to her vegan convictions The piece of writing that Midge is most proud of and how her animal rights convictions enter into what she writes Why The Tourist Trail was a transformational book for John to write The fascinating process of writing characters who are flawed and whether authors make decisions for characters, or whether the characters are making their decisions themselves Midge’s top tip for anyone who enjoys writing and wants to get a book out there but isn’t sure where to start How fiction allows people just starting their vegan journey to explore the often difficult first step and what a plant-based lifestyle could look like for them Connect with John Yunker and Midge Raymond: Ashland Creek Press Website Ashland Creek Press on Facebook Ashland Creek Press on Instagram Ashland Creek Press on Twitter Writing for Animals Class EcoLit Books Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Carolina Galvani, founder and CEO of the global animal-advocacy organization Sinergia Animal, joins Mariann on the podcast today for an insightful conversation about animal protection and veganism in the Global South. Carolina shares why she felt the need to launch Sinegeria Animal, how the organization is working to eradicate cruel treatment of animals while promoting plant-based diets, and how she’s helping to convince major dairy industry players to forgo the use of antibiotics and the killing of male calves. She also shares how rising incomes are leading to a rise in meat consumption in the Global South and discusses opportunities to slow down the rising popularity of meat by steering consumers toward vegan alternatives. Carolina founded Sinergia Animal, an animal protection organization based in Brazil that focuses its efforts on reducing the suffering of farmed animals in the countries of the Global South. Her work on animal welfare has been featured in prominent media outlets including the BBC, The New York Times, and Le Monde. Carolina has worked with several NGOs in 30 countries to highlight animal welfare issues, including serving as Senior Campaign Manager at Humane Society International in Brazil and as the Latin American Campaign Director for farmed animals at Forum Animal, Brazil’s largest animal protection network. “We face the risk of veganism becoming a trend that only the elite can afford. Our mission should be to make it accessible to everyone.” – Carolina Galvani Interview Highlights: Why Carolina founded an organization that exclusively focuses on farmed animals in the Global South How Carolina is collaborating with Open Wing Alliance on global initiatives Why Sinergia Animal is working with The Coalition for Aquatic Conservation to highlight the plight of aquatic animals Carolina highlights the aims of the Cage-Free campaign, explains how Sinergia Animal is approaching corporate players, and when they expect achieve their goals Whether the Global North has an obligation to help solve climate and other environmental problems facing the Global South Sinergia Animal’s strategic plan and how they see their work progressing over the next 10 years Connect with Carolina Galvani: Sinergia Animal Website Sinergia Animal on Facebook Sinergia Animal on Instagram Sinergia Animal on Twitter Sinergia Animal on YouTube Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Author, animal activist, and founder of Australia’s NSW Hen Rescue Catherine Kelaher joins us today to provide insight into her rescue work, share her most harrowing rescue experience (and the subsequent court case!), and detail how she goes about the rehoming process for rescued hens. She also tells us about her latest book, Saving Animals, a how-to guide for aspiring activists, and just wait till you hear about how Our Hen House helped bring it into existence! (We’re kvelling!!) Catherine and Jasmin also discuss everything from the many problems with hatching programs in schools to the importance of taking care of yourself when caring for others. Catherine is a vegan animal activist, feminist, and children’s book author who has dedicated her life to liberating caged hens. Catherine’s NSW Hen Rescue works to rehabilitate and rehome hens and other animals from factory farms. Both she and NSW Hen Rescue have received awards for animal activism and rescue. Catherine was born and raised in England and studied English literature and creative writing at Kingston Upon Thames University. She moved to Sydney, Australia, in 2006 and has been rescuing animals and trying to make the world a better place ever since. “By using your own narrative you can bring about change for animals.” – Catherine Kelaher Interview Highlights: Why Catherine decided to write Saving Animals and some of the amazing young activists she spoke to Catherine’s best care tips for companion animals Why we need to be honest with children and young people about what happens to animals How to introduce children to animal rights and the need for equality Insights into Catherine’s work at the NSW Hen Rescue, the hens she is currently caring for, and where they have been rescued from The difficulties and joys of rescuing roosters and how to deal with them as compassionately as possible Resources: Saving Animals Connect with Catherine Kelaher: NSW Hen Rescue’s Website Ashland Creek Press Website NSW Hen Rescue on Facebook NSW Hen Rescue on Instagram NSW Hen Rescue on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We’re thrilled to welcome Haruko Kawano and Mian Osumi of VegeProject Japan to the podcast this week for an informative and fascinating conversation about Japan’s growing vegan movement. Founder of VegeProject Japan, Haruko discusses how she successfully helped implement vegan-friendly options at Kyoto University during her time there as a student and how, after graduation, inspired by her dog, she founded VegeProject to help make vegan-friendly options more accessible throughout Japan. She also shares how a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with Paul McCartney encouraged her to continue doing this critical work. Haruko is joined by Mian Osumi, VegeProject’s International Representative, who  gives us a can’t-miss historical overview of how colonialism introduced dairy and beef into the modern Japanese diet. Haruko’s VegeProject Japan is a non-profit organization that helps industries produce vegan products, issues vegan certifications, collaborates with companies, and works with local administrators on community development. Mian Osumi is a vegan content creator and former Food and Nutrition Intern with The Humane Society of the United States. “There are many reasons to be vegan: for animals, for the environment, for health. When we start talking to our listeners, we care about what they are most interested in and start there. More and more, we’re able to start talking about animals and environmental issues. We talk about the points that attract them first and talk about how connected the issues are.” – Haruko Kawano and Mian Osumi Interview Highlights: How Haruko initiated a vegan food program within Kyoto University How dairy and beef were introduced in Japan How VegeProject Japan is working with corporations and what their long term goals are The products that VegeProject Japan has been instrumental in getting introduced into supermarkets The two central purposes of VegeProject Japan How Haruko plans to popularize vegan products and create more demand Haruko’s outreach and educational work around the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle The factory farming situation in Japan and where the majority of the country’s animal products come from The national VegeMap project and why Haruko was inspired to create an accessible way for vegans to find plant-based restaurant Resources: Jasmin’s Jargon @the_informed_vegan Connect with VegeProject Japan:  VegeProject Japan Website VegeProject Japan on Facebook VegeProject Japan on Instagram Haruko Kawano on Instagram VegeProject Japan on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We’re excited to welcome activist Christopher “Soul” Eubanks to the podcast today for an empowering conversation about the importance of intersectional, vegan activism. A longtime creative—often using hip-hop, drawing, and film to express himself—Christopher tells Jasmin about his decision to leave his job in corporate America and use his talents to address political and social issues as an entrepreneur. Christopher discusses the interconnected nature of veganism, human rights activism, and climate activism and explains how injustices often stem from individuals feeling disconnected from the world at large and their fellow beings. He also gives us an inside look into the exciting work he’s spearheading thanks to a grant from Mercy for Animals. Christopher ‘Soul’ Eubanks is a creative and activist using art and education to fight for animal liberation. Through his creative skillset, Christopher produces intersectional animal-rights content—ranging from university lectures and presentations to taking portraits of formerly farmed animals at sanctuaries and making YouTube videos—to help end oppression for all beings. “I’m not sure if veganism will be the thing that saves us all, but I think it will be the thing that gets us closer to saving us all. And I honestly think the thing that’s going to save us is for us to understand that we are all interconnected. We are all each other in different forms and different shapes.” – Christopher “Soul” Eubanks Interview Highlights: The different ways Christopher incorporates his love for photography into his activism Why Christopher is passionate about helping people understand their individual actions can help reduce animal exploitation How Christopher built his own platform as an animal activist and whether he thinks this is a good model for people to follow (rather than attaching themselves to an organization that’s already working to help animals) What the word veganism means to Christopher and how it is more than following a plant-based diet Christopher’s recent grant from Mercy for Animals, his vision for the type of content he will create, and where he’d like to present it How Christopher has emerged as a leading Black voice for animals while navigating institutional barriers and whether he feels veganism has become a more inclusive movement How Christopher became involved with Encompass to help make the animal-rights movement more equitable Resources: As a Black Man, I Felt Uncomfortable Becoming an Animal Activist Jasmin’s Jargon Connect with Christopher Eubanks: Soul Eubanks Website Soul Eubanks on Facebook Soul Eubanks on Instagram Soul Eubanks on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Laura Jean McKay joins us on the podcast this week for a riveting, literary conversation. Author of the award-winning novel The Animals in that Country, Laura discusses the challenge of writing dialogue for animals, why she rewrote her novel more than once, and shares her thoughts on anthropomorphism in literature. Laura reads a captivating passage and reflects on a chance encounter with a lone male kangaroo in the Australian bush that influenced her decision to do away with the communication barrier between humans and non-human animals in her book. Laura and Mariann also discuss how The Animals in that Country unknowingly predicted a pandemic and how it affected the book’s reception. Laura is a creative writing lecturer at Massey University of New Zealand and holds a Ph.D. focusing on literary animal studies from the University of Melbourne. Her book, Holiday in Cambodia, was shortlisted for three national book awards in Australia. She is an animal expert presenter on ABC’s Listen Animal Sound Safari, and her work appears in Meanjin, Overland, Best Australian Stories, The Saturday Paper, and The North American Review. “In literature and art, animals are seen as cute, stuttery, and stumbly, or very prophetic or poetic—they are here in this world to tell humans great truths about ourselves. But of course, they’re not here for us, they have their own lives that they’re living out. Sometimes we get in the way and prevent those lives from happening purposefully.” – Laura Jean McKay Interview Highlights: Why the language of The Animals in That Country feels so poetic, why it may seem confusing at first, and how the reader gains clarity Why it’s difficult to recognize who the novel’s hero, and what we eventually come to realize about their journey The storyline of the human and animal protagonists meeting the pigs who escaped a truck and why it’s so fascinating Whether Laura Jean felt presumptuous representing the role that animals have in humans’ lives Connect with Laura Jean McKay: Laura Jean McKay’s Website The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay Laura Jean McKay on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Myq Kaplan back to the podcast this week for an episode guaranteed to make you laugh! A renowned comedian and vegan activist, Myq tells Jasmin how he uses humor as a means to speak his truth regarding animals and veganism—without alienating his audience. Myq shares how he works to weave social justice advocacy into his stand-up comedy and tells us why this is of utmost importance to him as a white, cisgendered man. Myq discusses his multi-pronged approach to social change, how he’s working to propel the vegan movement forward, and why it’s important to ensure your audience that you’re on the same team. Myq is a vegan stand-up comedian who has appeared on the Tonight Show, Conan, Letterman, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and America’s Got Talent. His first album, Vegan Mind Meld, was one of iTunes’ top 10 comedy albums of the year. His newest album, A.K.A., debuted at number one and was included among The New York Times’ five “coronavirus best new comedy specials … to remind you of the old normal” for being “invigoratingly funny.” Myq also has a one-hour standup special on Amazon, Small, Dork, and Handsome, and two podcasts, The Faucet and Broccoli and Ice Cream. “The wonderful thing about comedy is that it’s not necessarily only about bright, shiny, light things. In fact, it’s often about shining that light on serious topics with humor.” -Myq Kaplan Highlights: How Myq feels about the pressure on comedians to constantly be funny The difference between self-deprecating and thoughtful comedy in prompting meaningful discussions The importance of understanding the effect of the language we use on others How thought-provoking comedy can work to highlight social issues and the nuances of promoting a deeper understanding of animals without sounding facile The ways people present to the world and how that can work for or against them as they work toward their goals Why speaking up for marginalized communities through comedy is walking a fine line between inclusion and judgment How Myq uses humor to propel the vegan movement forward and not alienate anyone in the community Connect with Myq Kaplan: Myq Kaplan Website Myq Kaplan on Facebook Myq Kaplan on Instagram Myq Kaplan on Twitter Myq Kaplan on Substack Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Erin Wing, Deputy Director of Investigations at Animal Outlook, discusses her experiences as an animal cruelty investigator, including going undercover at factory farms and a fish farm. She shares the challenges investigators face, the importance of the footage they gather, and the emotional toll of witnessing animal suffering. The podcast also explores water conservation in animal agriculture, the difficulties of being a vegan in net zero communities, and the negative effects of meat and dairy substitutes.

Jennifer Stojkovic joins us on the podcast this week for a powerful and information-packed conversation about the role of women and women-owned businesses in the post-animal economy. Jennifer is the founder of Vegan Women Summit (VWS), a global events and media organization dedicated to empowering women as they work to incorporate vegan ethics and values into their careers. In her conversation with Jasmin, Jennifer explains why she felt it necessary to focus on women working to build the post-animal economy and how women are crucial to the success of the vegan beauty, food, fashion, and overall lifestyle movement. She also tells us about the huge buzz created by VWS’ first virtual summit and pitch competition held in December 2020.. Jennifer built her career as a community relations leader for the world’s largest tech companies before blending her passion for change in the food system with her experience and network in Silicon Valley. In 2018, she launched the Future of Food partnerships bringing together CEOs and founders from leading tech brands with emerging leaders from the burgeoning food tech industry to establish food as “Tech 2.0.” Jennifer launched VWS in 2020 with a focus on building an equitable and diverse representation of vegan women leaders from around the world to partner with major tech brands. “Women, statistically speaking, make better founders. There is a lot of information that shows that women have higher valuations upon exit. Women are much better with per dollar investments compared to male founders; they make a lot less money but go a lot farther.” – Jennifer Stojkovic Interview Highlights: Why the creation of plant-based foods, sustainable textiles, and clean beauty solutions is the way of the future The obstacles that women face in receiving funding for food ventures Why the inequalities inherent in Silicon Valley lead to a networking gap for women Who attended the Summit and what stage their businesses were in How women founders develop their ideas into realities Jennifer’s perspective on what funders are looking for What you need to know about the venture capital world in order to start a business in an increasingly animal-free economy The Summit’s prize-based pitch competition and some examples of entries What Jennifer is most proud of in terms of building the virtual conference and the most important thing she learned from the process What’s next for VWS and the possibility of a hybrid conference in the future Resources: Jasmin’s Jargon So Delicious Oat Milk Ice Cream Alga-Life Kinder Beauty Rebellyous Food Miyoko’s Creamery Save Da Sea Foods Our Hen House Episode 561: Supporting Plant-Based Companies ft. Amy Trakinski Connect with Jennifer Stojkovic: Vegan Women Summit Website VWS Connect Vegan Women Summit on Facebook Vegan Women Summit on Instagram Vegan Women Summit on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.